Why Don't The French Get Fat?

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

mediapusher — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:36:33 GMT

I have an idea as to why French people dont get fat cause I spent two weeks in Rome, Italy which is near France and I didn't see many fat people there either

Romans exercise and walk more. They don't have to drive everywhere like many Americans do

Romans eat wholesome food. When a McDonalds was put in downtown Rome there was a big protest. Since then a slow food movement has started

Romans eat food that is not loaded with preservatives and shun bio-engineered food at every turn

When they are full they stop eating, and they don't have the gigantic proportions that Americans do (Americans don't have any concept of moderation, hence the problem with big belliesm ugly thunder thighs and heart disease)

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

alphafem2002 — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:46:34 GMT

I ate everything in sight for a week while In france because the quality was so unbelievably good. And lost four pounds and my pants were loose. The difference I notice, since I already cook totally homegrown is the relaxed pace of eating. Two hours for lunch in fresh air outside usually with friends. Three hours for dinner. (Not sure how anyone gets anything done)My calorie count was through the roof and I think the weight loss was the slow pace and espresso at the end which smoothed my belly right out.

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

Sarah Diggins — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 15:05:15 GMT

I am English and now live in France. What I have experienced is a completely different attitude to food compared with the UK. In the UK (which has changed in the last 15 years to be much more "American" in eating culture), a lot of people eat processed foods, ready meals, take aways and always lots of carbohydrates with meals (eg, meat and potato). Eating between meals is common and portions are very large.

In France, there is a much higher consumption of freshly prepared food, almost every main meal is served with green or mixed salad, portions are half the average of the UK, and people stop eating even when there is still food on their plate. Eating between meals is frowned upon, although is becoming more common. French people take a lot longer to eat their meals (lunch times are 2 hours, rather than the average 45 minutes in the UK), meals are cooked fresh and savoured. It is true that wine drinking is frequent, but normally just a small glass with a meal. My thin (naturally size zero!) French friends eat everything, but in what would be considered in the UK to be tiny portions, lots of space on their plates, with the exception of salad which is eaten lightly dressed in large portions. If they have desert, it's a small amount. The French don't really consider any food to be "bad" and will eat cream, butter, gateau, chocolate, etc, without guilt so no cravings!

Where I live, people are very active - we see loads of families on Sunday walking along the lakeside, even tiny children. We're in a skiing region and children as young as 2 start skiing. At school, children play outside and electronic toys are banned, so they play football and other active games. The culture doesn't suffer from being stiffled by the fear of being sued, so children are free to take part in activities that are considered too risky in the UK (eg using climbing frames).

So, here it seems to be about balance and self-control, less deprivation and binging.

Sarah

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

rigatoni — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:15:09 GMT

We spent a week in Paris during the Christmas season. My wife brought protein powder supplement packages for us to use in our hotel room. In the morning, I'd mix a packet with water or store bought orange juice. Then we ate a piece of fresh fruit and some yogurt. Then we'd link up with the kids and our grandaughter who were staying at a different hotel nearby. We walked to different cafes in the morning for breakfast which consisted of coffee, orange juice, baguettes with butter and jam or egg omlettes. ollowed by a few cigarettes. And we walked and walked, seeing the sites and the beauty of the city. It seemed like the entire country was walking somewhere and with a purpose. Then we would take the EXCELLENT subway somewhere and get off and do more walking. Our son who speaks French and knows the city would select a bar and we would stop around noon for a wine break. More walking, subways, more walking, and a late lunch. We didn't have one unpleasant meal, and being a big cheese eater, I loaded up on a variety of cheese at the fromage shop. Croissants? Out of this world and the other intricate pastries as well. Not sugury like American sweets. Back to the hotel room for a mid afternoon nap (after all that walking) More walking to another restaurant for the evening meal and more wine and cigarettes. And back to the subway and on to the streets and more walking to see the "city of lights" in the evening. Anyway, the wife and I kept up with the kids, but boy are feet were weary for a fabulous week in Paris. Mind you, with all the concentrated starchy food, Croissants, baguttes, pastries, a lot of cheese, and the wine, the moment we arrived home, my wife and I weighed ourselves and were the same weight as before the trip. Neither of us gained an ounce. I think Dr. Mercola is correct with his comments on this article, and we figure the long distance walking contributed to zero weight gain. And of course, no chemicalized junk food .

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

javamdnss — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:22:31 GMT

First time I've posted here, and I have to admit I'm a little disgusted by all the American bashing. (and the capitalist comment? What the heck is that about?!) Can't we admire the French, Italians, others, without bashing of America and Americans? I personally think there are a lot of reasons why Americans are obese, not just one or two. Fast meals, microwaved meals, depleted soils, our rushed lives, eating on the go, and more and more activites piled on, which makes us grab something fast so we can get to the next activity. Or there are the health reasons. Hypothyroid, fibromyalgia (who wants to move when you're in pain and exhausted?), chronic fatigue, hormone problems, depression, etc... Or how about people leading lonely lives and food is how they learned to comfort themselves? I personally know a lady who is very overweight because her mother used to lock her in a closet and not feed her for days! So now she eats too much because she is worried she won't get food for a very long time. Illogial, yes, but that is how it is with her. Everyone has their own different stories, I'm sure. We can't lump them all into one big "American" bashing session.

I would have love to see a little more compassion on here instead, although I loved the actual article.

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

yokolok — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:43:24 GMT

i've read that it could also be attributed to their consumption of wine with their meals...something found in the wine helps them maintain their "figure"...something called resveratrol which is found in grapes and some plants...saw a research/study done by harvard on this way back in 2003...

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

starsailor — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:36:48 GMT

The French are not fat because they smoke.

I know that sounds controversial, but it seems to be a contributory factor at least.

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

saynotoquacks — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:34:20 GMT

MSG is a very addictive drug. I believe this is responsible for obesity, along with the HORMONES and STEROIDS that American meat and dairy are loaded with.

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

Gary J Collins — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:36:07 GMT

The term fast food not only means fast cooking but also fast eating. One problem with most food readily available today is the bland taste. Are you eating pork or is it chicken, no wait is is suposed to be beef. I am a firm believer in eating what I call traditional foods, cooked using traditional recipes using ingredients produced using tradional methods.

It would be interesting to have a look at the statistics from Cuba after it was forced to return to organic farming.

Oh to live in a country where there is a real choice of what food to buy. Here in the Philippines there is not that choice. If it is not local food. then most of the supermarket food is imported from the USA or China and is expensive. Fresh milk even processed milk is hard to find. It is mainly UHT or powdered. I asked an assistant in a store where was there fresh milk one day only to be pointed at UHT milk labeled as "Fresh Milk". There is no organic food available that I have been able to find in the year that I have been looking.

Yes even here the fast junk food industry is flourishing.

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

alphafem2002 — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:31:07 GMT

For the one week I was in France, I stopped my low fat wheat free dairy free organic food,walking, physical job and ate my face off. i studied several hours a night and walked precious little. Every meal was large and satisfying and all mixed together in complex ways, not the single-food theory proposed by someone on this site. AND I LOST FOUR POUNDS. Ridiculous.

Since I already have excellent internal cues, this paradox can only be two things that I saw:

very slow meals, taking two hours each, in company of others

fresh air while eating. We were outside for every meal, even on cold evenings when the restaurant brought out propane heaters and we wore our coats. My skirt slipped off my hips on the last day.

It is a paradox indeed. I also saw no deepfried foods,but I never eat them anyway, so they were not part of my 'improvement'. I just cannot manage to eat SO slowly, two hours per meal while at home or work, though! Adding wine and espresso at home did not do it; it's about the slow speed, I think!!

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

Tiggy — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:22:14 GMT

I know their diet is very different, but no one has mentioned the fact that being of Latin descent, their genes are different to those of many of the people in England and Germany where obesity tends to be more common. The French generally have smaller frames and are more waisted as are people in Spain and Italy. I'm not saying being Anglo-Saxon makes you fat, but Latin people are naturally more petite and, being smaller, maybe they eat less or notice more when they are gaining weight.

Certainly cycling is far more common in the rest of Northern Europe than in England where it's not exactly encouraged.

BTW, does anyone know about obesity levels in Scandinavia?

Tiggy

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

paragonx — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:59:43 GMT

I think the French are thinner because they are so disgusted by other people that they lose their appetites.

Forget your 'studies'; this is the truth!

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

fiorettablyde — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:58:04 GMT

all the coments are a wonderful source of information and inspiration,thank you for taking the trouble to share(I am new to this listserve!!) though I have been reading Dr. Mercola's webpage for a while

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

carmentina — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:03:16 GMT

While I lived in France I saw them smother bread with butter then top it with salami!! They even butter radishes. I ate just like them for the year I was there and lost weight. Of course I didn't have a car and walked loads. Vive la France!

re: Why Don't The French Get Fat?

Ramona_203 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:44:28 GMT

Guess what I saw pulling up to the front entrance of Whole Foods today.... a ConAgra truck. It disturbed me immensely. the world is becoming one large corporation